BATANGAS CITY – The Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on Thursday reminded the public to stay safe during the Lenten and summer activities.
Batangas PDRRMO chief Joselito Castro , in a radio program, said the provincial government wants to ensure the safety of constituents, visitors and tourists during the Lenten break.
Castro said their office has close coordination with neighboring towns and cities to respond to emergency situations and the necessary assistance under their “Oplan SumVac” operations.
The PDRRMO has already coordinated with the various churches on their preparedness for the religious traditions and rites as droves of Catholic worshippers and devotees continue to flock to the churches and religious sites.
He added they have inspected and coordinated with beach resorts and tourist destinations on the strict compliance to guidelines so as not to repeat tragic incidents in the past.
He said resorts management and beach operators were reminded to advise their clients that some of the causes of drowning incidents are liquor intoxication; negligence on the part of the accompanying relatives or guardians to kids who are left unattended while swimming at beach resorts or in pool sites.
“Kaakibat na rin ang ibayong pag-iingat sapagkat buhay ang nakataya dito (Let us be safety-conscious always because life is always at stake here),” he said.
He also said that their Lenten and summer vacation operations include public convergence areas such as the Batangas International Port where an estimated 38,000 boat passengers per day are expected at the port terminals including rolling cargos on the roll-on, roll off facilities of the port.
The Batangas port is the major transhipment point for passengers and cargos especially during the Lenten break and summer vacation for their onward destinations to the provinces of Mindoro Oriental/Occidental, Romblon and the Western Philippines Nautical Seaboard.
The PDRRMO’s “SumVac” partners include the Philippine National Police (PNP) offices and units; PDRRM council members such as the local Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units here; Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP); Philippine Red Cross; Land Transportation Office (LTO); Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Provincial Health Office (PHO) personnel and civil society groups. (PNA)
